City Council to hold first hearing on Astoria Cove

The first City Council hearing on Astoria Cove, the proposed massive mixed-use development on the Queens waterfront, is scheduled to be held on Monday morning.

The plan, which serves as the first test of the mayor’s mandatory inclusionary housing program, was approved earlier this fall by the City Planning Commission. The proposal includes 20 percent affordable housing — or 345 out of roughly 1,700 units — with the chance of raising that to 30 percent. Some council members have been advocating to make at least half of the units affordable.

Astoria Cove, which is being developed by Queens-based developer Alma Realty, will also include 54,000 square feet of retail space, a waterfront esplanade and a public school.

City comptroller Scott Stringer was scheduled to testify on Monday morning. The City Council is expected to vote on the plan at the end of November. [NY1]— Claire Moses